Sidewalks sizzle with great deals

Bill Hogan, Chicago Tribune

State Street Macy's and Apartment Number 9, 1804 N. Damen Ave., leeallison.com Allison, 49, an East Coast transplant, has been creating original and whimsical tie designs from his Chicago base for the last 15 years, and he chairs Mayor Richard Daley's Fashion Council. Pictured: Tie, $20 or 6 for $100 (His ties often retail for $90.)

State Street Macy's and Apartment Number 9, 1804 N. Damen Ave., leeallison.com Allison, 49, an East Coast transplant, has been creating original and whimsical tie designs from his Chicago base for the last 15 years, and he chairs Mayor Richard Daley's Fashion Council. Pictured: Tie, $20 or 6 for $100 (His ties often retail for $90.) (Bill Hogan, Chicago Tribune)

dollybirddesign.com Katie Johansson, 34, had a day job designing mass-produced jewelry for Macy's and Wal-Mart but "became compulsive and obsessed with the art of working with metal" and now makes her own jewelry in Chicago full time, by hand, and sells it on her Web site, at art fairs and on etsy.com. Pictured: Australian boulder opal ring, right, sterling silver, $285; golden druzy and hand-brushed sterling silver ring, left, $95.

dollybirddesign.com Katie Johansson, 34, had a day job designing mass-produced jewelry for Macy's and Wal-Mart but "became compulsive and obsessed with the art of working with metal" and now makes her own jewelry in Chicago full time, by hand, and sells it on her Web site, at art fairs and on etsy.com. Pictured: Australian boulder opal ring, right, sterling silver, $285; golden druzy and hand-brushed sterling silver ring, left, $95. (Bill Hogan, Chicago Tribune)

We all have our own list of the joys of summer. At the very top of mine is power shopping — outdoors! Throughout the city and suburbs, communities are holding sidewalk sales that feature wares from designers and boutiques, often at the lowest prices of the season. It's a chance to score bargains, meet the designers and get a taste of smaller stores you might not have checked out before. Most noteworthy of all the outdoor shop ops is the Chicago Sidewalk Sale at Daley Plaza, sponsored by the city's Office of Tourism. "It's in the heart of the city, a great venue for local talent to show what they can do and to appeal to different audiences — including those who work downtown," says Kiran Advani from the Chicago tourism office. The fourth annual Daley Plaza Sidewalk Sale is July 20 and 21 (a Tuesday and Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features 36 local boutiques and designers. Here's a sampling, from six local designers, of what you'll see at Daley Plaza. You'll also find some of the Daley Plaza designers and shops at other neighborhood sales, arts festivals and the giant Renegade Craft Fair Sept. 11 and 12. --Ellen Warren, Tribune senior correspondent